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WEEKLY NEWSPAPER Our 32nd Year • Over 25,000 Weekly Readers ISSUE NO. 1 • January 4, 2024 • RutherfordWeekly.com • 828-248-1408
“22aday” event comes to American Legion Post today Article By Jean Gordon
Bringing awareness to military suicide began in Michigan, reaches out to Feb. 10 can email their veteran’s organizations across the country information to: info@22aday.org that might be interested in hosting and volunteers will add it to the an event. cross and place the information Marc Kunes is the Commander on the group’s webpage. of the Legion Post 74 in Green Hill. Pamphlets and other items After learning about the veteran to educate the community of the suicide awareness program, the reality of military suicide will be local post decided to host an available. event. Brent Hendrix is buried in “This is only the second time Arlington National Cemetery and this has been held in North during the recent Wreaths Across Carolina,” Kunes said. America event, a friend placed a The American Legion Post 172 wreath at his grave. During the in Concord hosted the program 22aday memorial, Michelle plans last year. to come to Green Hill and add her “We hope this spreads to as brother’s name to a cross. Others Purple Heart Recipient Brent Allen many places as possible in order are invited to do the same. Hendrix of Rutherford County was laid Note: If you want to share a to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. to bring awareness to what military 22aday story, contact Jean Gordon: personnel often face,” he said. A friend placed this Wreath Across The American Legion Post gordonjean211@gmail.com American on his gravesite for Christmas. members, the Marine Corps League, the Disabled American Veterans and others will be among volunteers to help place the crosses in the yard each day. Anyone interested is invited to participate. “I have experienced this (veteran suicide),” Kunes said. As a member of the Rutherford County Honor Guard he has met families who have lost a beloved veteran to suicide. “If people want to volunteer that will be good” Kunes said. After the 660 crosses have been placed over the month, they will remain for a few more days as people pass by to reflect on the memorials. This scene from Concord when the first crosses were placed by Events such as the one the American Legion Post 172. beginning today in Green Hill are organized by Ambassadors and are unique in every way – from small groups of people at local malls, hundreds of people uniting together at parks, schools, and even at parades in hometowns to a small awareness movement at City, County or State facilities (permission required) to help the movement grow and spread the awareness in the The white crosses placed in Concord will be transported to Green Hill Thursday communities, the website (Jan. 4) and will remain on display until mid-February. The American Legion Post reads. 74 will daily place 22 crosses on the front lawn of the headquarters through the first Luker also said anyone of February to bring awareness to military suicide. unable to get to Green Hill by Brian Bloomfield, Commander, American Legion Post 172, Concord, photos.
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Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. He was medically retired from the US Army on the 3rd anniversary of his Alive Day. His heroic efforts awarded him the Purple Heart Medal, Army Commendation Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge. He moved to Cincinnati, Ohio to attend college and to move on with life. At the Medical Center at the University of Cincinnati, he would continue treatments that meant Brent and Michelle on his birthday, many more surgeries. Apparently the burdens were too much to November 11, 2016. bear for the Rutherford County Contributed photo. Purple Heart Medal recipient. He Michelle Hendrix said after her couldn’t handle life. Brent’s death almost four years brother Brent’s death, “she was lost.” She relied on her brother for ago forever changed his family. The family and other Rutherford strength and support. The former Chase High and regional families who have graduate and US Army been through the same thing, will infantryman in 2003, Brent “Hoss” have an opportunity to remember Hendrix died on April 23, 2020 and honor them during the 22aday in Cincinnati after taking his own event in Green Hill. Beginning Thursday (Jan. life. Hendrix lost a leg in the Iraq war in 2006 and for the next 14 4) through the first days of years was haunted about the day February, 22 white crosses will his Jeep hit an IED (Improvised be placed daily in the front yard Explosive Device) while on of the American Legion Post 74 at duty. He would later say he was 2502 US 64/74 in Green Hill. The “blown up” and didn’t remember crosses are placed to pay tribute the horrible accident. He would to the veterans who die by suicide undergo more than 100 surgeries, each day. The crosses will be lit was hospitalized at Walter Reed at night and by the end month, there will be 660 crosses placed in and other hospitals. The Rutherford County Green Hill. Family members of veterans infantryman became a sad statistic. Hendrix is among 22 who died by suicide and the veterans who lose their battle to general public are invited to come post traumatic stress on American to Green Hill anytime between soil every day. One veteran in January 5 and February 4 to the United States dies every 65 remember their loved ones and observe the display of crosses. minutes. Because of the alarming Families and friends may submit statistic, 22aday, a nonprofit information about their veteran to organization was formed in be placed on a cross. During the coming days, Michigan in 2021 after two years of doing the work as private information will be available on individuals. Those who began site for resources the community the organization said they started can use to support Rutherford the work because “we all have a County veterans and those close personal connecter to a friend by. Jon Luker of Howell, Michigan, who committed suicide.” Hendrix grew up in Rutherford and secretary of 22aday will be in County and graduated in 2003 Green Hill on January 4 (today) to from Chase. He joined the US begin the process of the memorial. Army as an infantryman in 2003. The first crosses will be placed on After his severe injury in Iraq, Friday, January 5. The 22aday organization that he spent three years at Walter